Bit-stock.



O. B. GILMORE.

BIT STOCK. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 15, 1908.

91 9, 1 56, Patefite d Apr.20, 1909.

fig @2266 6272210113.

- a. "rs-n: NORRIS PETERS cm, wnmlvcmu,

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEroE.

CHARLES B. GILMORE, OF SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOJOHN F. WHITE, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

BIT-STOCK.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OHARLEs B. GILMORE, citizen of the United States,residing at Springfield, in the county of Sangamon and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inBit-Stocks, of which the following is a specification, reference beinghad therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to a bit stock and has especial reference to thedriving mechanism therefor.

The invention includes a driver having a bit and means associatedtherewith for accelerating the speed of the bit and the driver carriedthereby, and mechanism for releasing the o crating connection of saidfirst mentione means, whereby the driver may be driven directly from thehandle of the instrument.

The invention also contem lates a tool of the character described whicmay be operated and adjusted by a single hand'of the user.

More particularly the invention comprises a handle, a bit, adifferential gear mechanism for the bit, an operative member for thelatter, and a clutch member adapted to release the operative connectionof the differential gear and couple the handle directly to the bit, withmeans for normally retaining said clutch in an inactive position.

The arrangement of parts and the novel details of construction will bepointed out in the description hereinafter, reference being directed inthis connection to the accompanying sheet of drawings forming a partereof, and wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is disclosedfor the of illustration.

In the said drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, and Fig. 2 isa transverse section on the line II3C6 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, in which like referencecharacters denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 isa casing having an inwardly turned annular flange 2 at its innerterminal. Mounted to slide longitudinally of the casing is a cap member3, which is conveniently formed cup-shaped, with the purposeSpecification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 15, 1908.

Patented April 20, 1909.

Serial No. 448,676.

annular flange thereof loosely engaging the inner surface of the casing,and the body 3 constituting the closing means for the outer end of thecasing 1. A transverse partition or abutment 4 is provided within thecasing intermediate its ends and is apertured for the loose reception ofthe shank or bit 5 of a screw driver or the like 5, it being within thecontemplation of my invention to use tools other than screw drivers. IThe bit 5' proj ects without the inner end of the casing and terminatesin an enlargement at its opposite end having a shoulder 5 engaging oversaid partition. To the opposite side of the partition a gear wheel 6 iskeyed to the bit 5 7 is a tubular sleeve rotatably mounted upon the bit5 and extending through the inner end of the casing, an enlargement 7 bof which constituting with the annular flange 2 a retaining wall forball-bearings 8. An annular flange 9 is provided at the opposite end ofthe tubular member 7 and constitutes a support for rotatable gear wheels10 arranged to mesh respectively with the gear wheel 6 upon the bit 5and an internal annular gear 11 upon the casing. The enlargement 7 ispreferably serrated or notched whereby the fingers of the operator mayob tain a firm grip thereon and thereby rotate the differential gears toimpart to the bit and the part carried thereby a high speed.

From the description thus far it will be observed that the tool isdouble acting or reversible in that the screw driver may be rotated ineither direction at a high speed, and with but one hand of the user. Inoperation the palm of the hand is grasped about the handle 1 with theforefinger and thumb in engagement with the operating end 7 b of thetubular member '7, movement being imparted to said tubular memberthrough the medium of the forefinger and thumb with the result that thedriver is actuated at an accelerated speed in either direction.

As before described the cap member 3 is slidably mounted within thecasing 1. It has a pin and slot connection 12 with the casing whichconstitutes a guide for the cap and means for limiting its movement ineither direction. A spring 13 is inserted in the casing between thepartition 4 and cap 3 and normally tends to hold the latter in itsoutward position. The cap 3 is also provided with a clutch face 14arranged to engage when in innermost position a complementary clutchface 15 upon the end of the oit 5 In the normal operation of the tool itwill be noted that motion is imparted to the bit 5 through the medium ofthe interposed differential ear. When, however, it is desired to releasethe gear-connection and lock the parts together it is only necessary topush the cap member 3 inwardly against the action of the spring untilthe clutch face thereof engages the complementary clutch face on thebit, when direct movement from the casing 1 to the bit 5 may be had.

I claim:

1. In a tool of the character described a handle comprising a tubularcasing having an internal annular gear intermediate its ends, a bitshank projecting at its lower end without the casing and otherwiseinclosed by said casing, the bit shank having intermediate its endsgearing to cooperate with said first mentioned gear and a clutch membermovably connected with the upper end of said casing and arranged toconnect directly with said shank at a point above the gearing and withinthe casing.

2. In a tool of the character described, a handle comprising a tubularcasing open at its respective ends, a bit shank projecting through thelower end ofthe casing and having a geared connection with the casingand means whereby the bit shank may have an independent connection withthe casing comprising a clutchface upon the bit shank, and an auxiliaryclutch member sleeved within the opening at the rear end of the casingand having a pin and slot connection with said casing.

3. A tool comprising a casing adapted to be grasped by the palm of thehand of the user, a bit, means for connecting the bit to the casingwhereby the bit may be rotated by the casing, means whereby the casingmay be released from said connection, a differential gear'for the bit,the said gear being arranged within the casing and iii-closed thereby,and an actuating device forthe gear independent of the casing andconstructed and arranged to be operated bythe thumb and forefinger ofthe hand of the user.

4. A tool comprising a bit, a handle, means for coupling the bit to thehandle for direct action, automatic means ior'releasing said coupling,and independent means for rotating the bit at an increased speed.

5. A tool comprising a bit shank, a handle, difier'ential gearing.within the handle for operating the shank, means extending without thehandle and independent of the latter for operating the differentialgearing to rotate the shank at a high speed, and means for coupling thehandle directly to the bit shank and locking the diiierential gearingcomprising a clutch member slidably mounted within the handle, andconstituting a closure for one end of the handle.

6. A tool comprising a bit shank, a gear upon the bit shank, a casinghating an internal annular gear, a tubular member sleeved upon the bitshank and having a gear wheel arranged to mesh with the annular gear ofthe casing and the gear of the bit shank respectively, and said tubularmem her having an operating member extending without the casing.

7. A tool comprising a bit shank, a gear upon the bit shank, a casinghaving an internal annular gear, a tubular member sleeved upon the bitshank and having a gear wheel arranged to mesh with the annular gear ofthe casing and the gear of the bit respectively, said tubular memberhaving an operating member extending without the casing, and means iorlocking each of said parts together and to the handle whereby the bitmay be op e-rated directly from the handle.

8. A tool of the character described comprising a bit shank having atits inner end an integral clutch member and a gear wheel intermediateits ends, a casing, gearing interposed between said gear wheel andcasing, and a clutch member complementary to the clutch member of thebit shank carried by and movable relative to the casing,

9. A tool comprising a tubular casing con stituting a handle having anopening at its opposite ends, a bit shank projecting through one of saidopenings, gearing interposed between the inner wall of the casing andshank,

an operating member independent of the handle projecting without thecasing for rotating the shank through said gearing, and a clutch memberslidably connected with said casing for direct connection with theshank, the clutch having an operating part projecting through the otheropening of the casing.

10. A tool comprising a tubular casing open at its respective ends, abit shank fitting within one of said openings and projectingtherewithout at one end, an integral clutch at the opposite end of thebit shank within the casing, a cooperating clutch member between thecasing and said shank clutch for operating the-shank directly, the saidcooperating clutch having an operating part extending without the otheropening of the casing, an interposed differential gear for operating theshank at a diilerent speed, and means for operating the latter.

11. A tool comprising a tubular casing open at its lower end, a bitshank fitting within the casing and projecting therewithout at the lowerend, an integral clutch at the opposite end of the bit shank within thetween the casing and said shank clutch for in presence of two witnesses.

operatin the shank directly means for 1 T normalb holding said clutchmembers sep- CHARLES arated, an interposed differential gear forWitnesses: operating the shank at a different speed, and f HERBERT D.WINQr-IELL, means for operating the latter. CHAs. L. HINES.

easing, a cooperating clutch member be- I In testimony whereof I affixmy signature I i

